Is rural-to-urban migration related to smoking, alcohol, and substance use a cross-sectional study among medical students

The prevalence of smoking, alcohol, and substance use and the factors associated with these behaviors show marked regional variations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of these behaviors among medical students and examine their associations with migration and other related factors. All medical students at a faculty were invited to participate (n = 1056). Of these, 780 (73%) completed a self-report form. Of them, %58.8 (n=447) were male and %41.8 were female (n=313). The median age of the sample was 22. The form included Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), smoking characteristics, migration history, residential area characteristics, history of perinatal complications, and mental illness. Prevalence of smoking, alcohol use, risky drinking, and illicit substance use were assessed. Migration history was defined as relocation across provincial boundaries during childhood for reasons related to security threats or other social, familial, or economic factors. The prevalence of smoking among students was 33%, lifetime alcohol use was 30.5%, risky alcohol consumption in the past year was 2.0%, lifetime use of illicit substances was 4.3%, and problematic substance use in the past year was 2.5%. A history of mental illness was associated with all variables except smoking (p < 0.01). Other factors associated with smoking included a history of migration, the CTQ-28 score, and residence in a student house. In addition to well-known risk factors, the findings highlight relatively underrecognized factors such as internal migration and a history of perinatal complications.